TASMANIAN INSTITUTE OF AGRICULTURE 2019 HIGHLIGHTS ABOUT TIA The Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture (TIA) is a research institute at the University of Tasmania focussing on research, development, extension (RD&E) and education in the field of agriculture. TIA was established in 1997 as a joint venture between the University of Tasmania and the Tasmanian Government, and has the objective of supporting prosperous, innovative and sustainable agriculture and food sectors in Tasmania. Our researchers work closely with private sector partners across the agriculture and food value chain at a local, national and international level, ensuring that TIA’s research and education priorities are responsive to industry needs and contemporary agricultural sector challenges. The joint venture has successfully enabled TIA to deliver nationally and globally-recognised research excellence and the highest possible Australian Research Council engagement and impact rankings. 130+ TOP 50 SCIENTISTS AND UNIVERSITY FOR AGRICULTURAL TECHNICAL EXPERTS SCIENCE (ARWU 2019) HIGHEST 100+ POSSIBLE RANKINGS FOR POSTGRADUATE ENGAGEMENT AND IMPACT RESEARCH CANDIDATES (ARC ENGAGEMENT AND IMPACT ASSESSMENT 2018-19) TOP 100 UNIVERSITY FOR AGRICULTURE (QS RANKINGS 2019) Front page image: TIA Plant Physiologist Professor Sergey Shabala was named "leading researcher in the world in the field of botany" for his work to make sure we have enough food in the future. CONTENTS ABOUT TIA MESSAGE FROM TIA’S INTERIM DIRECTOR 04 MESSAGE FROM THE MINISTER 06 TIA ADVISORY BOARD MESSAGE 07 HORTICULTURE CENTRE 08 DAIRY, GRAINS AND GRAZING CENTRE 14 AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS CENTRE 20 FOOD SAFETY AND INNOVATION CENTRE 24 GLOBAL IMPACT 29 LEARNING AND TEACHING 30 FINANCIAL REPORT 35 2019 PROJECTS 36 2019 PUBLICATIONS 44 4 2019 HIGHLIGHTS MESSAGE FROM TIA’S INTERIM DIRECTOR The Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture (TIA) continues to work closely with Tasmania’s agriculture and food sectors to ensure they are profitable, safe and sustainable into the future. A renewed five-year Joint Venture Agreement (JVA) was finalised between the University of Tasmania and the Tasmanian State Government during 2019. This agreement will ensure TIA continues to deliver research, development, extension and education to support the growth of the agriculture sector in Tasmania, with national and international impact. The core of the agreement formalises TIA’s ongoing commitment to support the objectives set out in the Tasmanian Government’s White Paper to grow the value of Tasmanian agriculture to $10 billion by 2050. During 2019 we bid farewell to TIA Director Professor Holger Meinke, who accepted a role as the University of Tasmania’s inaugural Strategic Research Professor for Global Food Sustainability. Since joining the organisation in 2011, Professor Meinke made a tremendous contribution toward TIA’s impact on agriculture in Tasmania and beyond. His vision helped deliver significant impact to industry and society and prepared a new generation of students to tackle agricultural challenges. We wish Professor Meinke well in his future endeavours. Some highlights during 2019 include: • Engagement with the Tasmanian Government’s new Agricultural Innovation Fund, which provides an additional $3 million for strategic RD&E projects. The first project supported by this aims to expand treatments for blueberry rust for Tasmanian growers. • Signing a partnership with the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, supporting research and development into growing Chinese Traditional Medicines in Tasmania for export. • A new research agreement between TIA and Essential Oils of Tasmania to support Tasmania’s growing essential oils and plant extracts sector. • A research partnership with SeedForce to develop a new variety of barley that will withstand extreme wet conditions with no negative impacts on its yield and quality. • Concluding the ARC Training Centre for Innovative Horticultural Products, which successfully worked with industry to train food scientists who will contribute to the development of the fresh produce sector. • Launching a mid-year intake for the popular Masterclass in Horticulture Business in response to industry demand. • Awarding $224,000 worth of community and industry-funded scholarships to support students studying agriculture at the University of Tasmania. PROFESSOR MICHAEL ROSE INTERIM DIRECTOR, TASMANIAN INSTITUTE OF AGRICULTURE TASMANIAN INSTITUTE OF AGRICULTURE Supporting sustainable agriculture and food sectors through high-impact research, development, extension and education. 6 2019 HIGHLIGHTS MESSAGE FROM THE MINISTER Through the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture (TIA), the Government is working with farmers, researchers and agribusiness to set an exciting direction in agricultural research in Tasmania. TIA, established through a Joint Venture between the Tasmanian Government and the University of Tasmania, is unique in Australia. With the University of Tasmania’s state-wide focus and global connections, TIA offers our agricultural sector unparalleled opportunities to engage in RD&E and to adopt the best available technologies on-farm. I am pleased to say that in 2019 the Tasmanian Government signed a new agreement with the University to continue this valuable partnership. Tasmania’s agricultural sector is firmly on track to reach the Government’s target to grow the farm gate value to $10 billion by 2050. Staying on track requires that we continue to innovate and take agricultural productivity to new levels through world-class agricultural RD&E. The White Paper: Growing Tasmanian Agriculture – Research, Development and Extension for 2050 sets out the Government’s direction for agricultural RD&E. In 2019, with TIA as a key partner, we have continued to deliver on its objectives and are investing in agricultural RD&E that delivers that even greater on-farm impact for Tasmanian producers. We are providing more funding for industry-led, time-critical research through the $3 million Agricultural Innovation Fund, from which TIA was awarded the first grant of $300 000 for RD&E to better equip farmers to combat Blueberry Rust. I would like to acknowledge and thank Professor Holger Meinke, for his contribution as TIA Director since 2011 and Dr John Whittington, for his work as Chair of the TIA Advisory Board over the past six years. I wish them the very best as they both take up new roles. I welcome Professor Mike Rose as Interim Director and thank the team of researchers, technical and professional staff at TIA for their commitment to supporting prosperous, innovative and sustainable agriculture industries in Tasmania. THE HON. GUY BARNETT MP MINISTER FOR PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND WATER TASMANIAN INSTITUTE OF AGRICULTURE 7 MESSAGE FROM TIA’S ADVISORY BOARD The TIA Advisory Board includes representatives from the University of Tasmania, the State Government and Tasmania’s agricultural industries. The Board provides input on the strategic direction of research that is undertaken by the Joint Venture, to support prosperous, innovative and sustainable agriculture and food sectors in Tasmania. Over the last 12 months the Board has worked with TIA to continue delivering on the recommendations in the Government’s White Paper - Growing Tasmanian Agriculture - Research, Development and Extension for 2050. The recommendations seek to harness TIA’s research excellence to deliver on farm impacts, increase productivity and promote innovation, competitiveness and sustainability in Tasmania’s agriculture and food industries. Achievements in 2019 include implementing the Government’s RD&E Principles and Investment Strategy and launching Extension Accelerator, a program developed with industry and coordinated by TIA to build Tasmanian agricultural extension capability by providing professional development for graduates working in the sector. I acknowledge the work of TIA staff and the members of the Advisory Board, including my predecessor, Dr John Whittington, who has Chaired the Board since 2014. The Board is central to TIA’s governance structure and the Joint Venture Agreement signed in June 2019 reinforces its role in maintaining the three-way partnership of industry, Government and University that underlies TIA’s ongoing success and recognition. I trust that the Board will continue to work to ensure TIA remains at the forefront of agricultural research, in partnership with industry and Government. TIM BAKER CHAIR, TASMANIAN INSTITUTE OF AGRICULTURE ADVISORY BOARD ACTING SECRETARY, DPIPWE HORTICULTURE CENTRE TASMANIAN INSTITUTE OF AGRICULTURE 9 Innovation award for TIA wine research Research Fellow Dr Rocco Longo is taking the guesswork out of creating Project: A new tool for in-line and beautiful sparkling wines. real-time grape juice assessments He is working with sparkling wine Funding body: Australian makers to develop a new piece of Department of Agriculture and equipment that will increase the Water Resources precision of grape pressing techniques using a method called spectroscopy. Research team: Longo R; Kerslake FL; Dambergs R “Currently, wine makers have to taste the juice at regular intervals to His ground-breaking work has been determine when to stop pressing – a recognised with a major award from sensory process that is extremely Wine Australia, presented at Australia's difficult,” Dr Longo said. 2019 Science and Innovation Awards. New yield forecasting tool on horizon for vineyard managers In a world first, TIA researchers have developed a way of using existing Project: Taking